here's the second one....
 
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                  21 Gun Salute
 
The use of gun salutes for military occasions is 
traced to early warriors who demonstrated their peaceful
intentions by placing their weapons in a position that
rendered them ineffective. Apparently this custom was
universal, with the specific act varying with time and place,
depending on the weapons being used. A North African tribe,
for example, trailed the points of their spears on the ground
to indicate that they did not mean to be hostile.
 
The tradition of rendering a salute by cannon originated
in the 14th century as firearms and cannons came into use.
Since these early devices contained only one projectile,
discharging them once rendered them ineffective. Originally
warships fired seven-gun salutes...the number seven probably
selected because of its astrological and Biblical
significance. Seven planets had been identified and the
phases of the moon changed every seven days. The Bible states
that God rested on the seventh day after creation, that every
seventh year was sabbatical and that the seven times seventh
year ushered in the Jubilee year.
 
Land batteries, having a greater supply of gunpowder, were
able to fire three guns for every shot fired afloat, hence
the salute by shore batteries was 21 guns. The multiple of
three probably was chosen because of the mystical
significance of the number three in many ancient
civilizations. Early gunpowder, composed mainly of sodium
nitrate, spoiled easily at sea, but could be kept cooler and
drier in land magazines. When potassium nitrate improved the
quality of gunpowder, ships at sea adopted the salute of
21 guns.
 
The 21-gun salute became the highest honor a nation
rendered. Varying customs among the maritime powers led to
confusion in saluting and return of salutes. Great Britain,
the world's preeminent seapower in the 18th and 19th 
centuries, compelled weaker nations to salute first, and for
a time monarchies received more guns than did republics.
Eventually, by agreement, the international salute was
established at 21 guns, although the United States did not
agree on this procedure until August 1875.
 
The gun salute system of the United States has changed
considerably over the years. In 1810, the "national salute"
was defined by the War Department as equal to the number of
states in the Union...at that time 17. This salute was fired
by all of U.S. military installations at 1:00 p.m. (later at
noon) on Independence Day. The President also received a
salute equal to the number of states whenever he visited a
military installation.
 
In 1842, the Presidential salute was formally established
at 21 guns. In 1890, regulations designated the "national 
salute" as 21 guns and redesignated the traditional 
Independence Day salute, the "Salute to the Union," equal to
the number of states. Fifty guns are also fired on all
military installations equipped to do so at the close of the
day of the funeral of a President, ex-President, or
President-elect.
 
Today the national salute of 21 guns is fired in honor of
a national flag, the sovereign or chief of state of a foreign
nation, a member of a reigning royal family, and the
President, ex-President and President-elect of the United
States."                                                 
 
Source:  Headquarters, Military District of Washington
Michael Furman 
US Army Recruiting Battalion Seattle Washington
contact: 6LBN-IM@emh2.usarec.army.mil 
--- TriDog 10.0
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